LEGISLATIVE BUDGET COMMISSION APPROVES $2.8M FOR SOUTH FLORIDA WATER IMPROVEMENT

TALLAHASSEE– The Joint Legislative Budget Commission -- a body of Florida senators and representatives -- today approved a request from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to spend $2,769,525 to improve water quality in the St. Lucie River and Caloosahatchee River basins.

Projects include operational and structural changes to existing system infrastructure that will help mitigate the estuary flows by moving excess Lake Okeechobee water south rather than east and west to the estuaries. Projects also include additional water storage and both functions will be used to help reduce the flow of water to the St. Lucie and Caloosahatchee rivers.

“Water storage is a positive first step to improving
water quality to the St. Lucie River, and the action today by the Legislative
Budget Commission shows the Legislature’s commitment to improve water in this
area of the state,” said Sen. Joe Negron, Co-Chair of the Joint Legislative
Budget Commission. “More needs to be done, and I will continue working with DEP
and the South Florida Water Management District to build on this momentum.”

"These additional funds from the Legislative Budget Commission will
allow DEP and the Water Management District to continue its efforts to improve
water quality in the St. Lucie and Caloosahatchee estuaries," said DEP Secretary Herschel
T. Vinyard Jr. "DEP appreciates the commitment of the
Legislature and Governor Scott to getting the water right."

Local governments have already invested $230 million to address stormwater runoff for the St. Lucie River and Estuary as part of the Department's restoration plan with another $13 million expected to be spent in the first phase of the
restoration plan. The Department's three restoration plans adopted for the Indian River Lagoon in February have seen more than $300 million invested or to be invested in wastewater and stormwater infrastructure and urban and agricultural best management practices.

"This funding will continue the Department's focus on improving water quality through tangible actions to reduce impacts to watersheds," said Drew Bartlett, DEP Deputy Secretary for Water Policy and Ecosystem Restoration. "Our water quality experts are dedicated to working with local partners to identify and fund projects that reduce nutrient impacts to our waterways."

The additional funding by the Florida Legislature comes on the heels of two major announcements last month by Governor Scott, committing $130 million to projects designed to improve water quality in the St. Lucie and Caloosahatchee rivers and send more water south to the Everglades.

Governor Scott announced $40 million in funding to speed up completion of the C-44 Stormwater Treatment Area project, which will cut the project time in half. The reservoir is designed to clean diverted water from Lake Okeechobee and stormwater runoff year-round.

A week later, Governor Scott committed $90 million to funding the Tamiami Trail project, which will bridge a new 2.6 mile segment of Tamiami Trail in South Florida, allowing water to more naturally flow south into Everglades National Park. The project will keep more high nutrient water from entering the Caloosahatchee and St. Lucie Estuaries.

“The
District deeply appreciates Senator Negron’s commitment to protecting South
Florida's water resources and the funding approved today by the Joint
Legislative Budget Commission,” said SFWMD Executive Director Blake Guillory.
“With these additional resources, the District will continue implementing
solutions that provide relief for South Florida’s estuaries by increasing flows
of clean water south into the Everglades.”

About the Florida Department of Environmental Protection

The
Florida Department of Environmental Protection is the state’s principal
environmental agency, created to protect, conserve and manage Florida’s
environment and natural resources. The Department enforces federal and state
environmental laws, protects Florida’s air and water quality, cleans up
pollution, regulates solid waste management, promotes pollution prevention and
acquires environmentally-sensitive lands for preservation. The agency also
maintains a statewide system of parks, trails and aquatic preserves. To view
the Department’s website log on to www.dep.state.fl.us.